Retractable step assembly



1952 R. N. KELTNER ETAL RETRACTABLE STEP ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 29, 1947 Q n E Jan- 8, 195 R. N. KELTNER ETAL RETRACTABLE STEP ASSEMBLY 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed July 29, 1947 8, 1952 R. N. KELTNER ETAL 2,581,488

RETRl-KCTABLE STEP ASSEMBLY Filed July 29, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 8, 1 952 RETRACTABLE STEP ASSEMBLY Robert Neil Keltner and Barbara Lea Keltner, Phoenix, Ariz.

Application July 29, 1947, Serial No. 764,298

1 Claim.

Our invention consists in new and useful immovements in a retractable step or utility ladder primarily designed for use in connection with kitchen cabinet doors or the like. Frequently, in order to fully utilize the space available in kitchens, halls, closets, etc., certain of the upper shelves and cabinets are located at such a height that they are .usually neglected and seldom used because access thereto is so difficult.

It is therefore, the main object of our invention to overcome this inconvenience and to provide a retractable step assembly which may be bodily attached to the doors of the lower cabinets in a kitchen or hall and is so constructed as to occupy a minimum of space when retracted.

A further object of our invention is to provide an arrangement whereby the nested parts present an attractive, yet inconspicuous appearance. The entire assembly when retracted, to all intents and purposes becomes a part of the cabinet door and the exposed surfaces which meet the eye of an observer lie substantially in a common plane within the confines of the main housing.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an assembly of this character wherein the various elements may be respectively constructed in the form of one piece units of cast or pressed metal, plastic, or other suitable material, thus facilitating simplicity. of manufacture and affording a strong, durable and easily assembled structure.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, our invention consists in the novel features hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings, in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the main housing of our improved structure;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar view taken online 3-3 of Figure 1; l Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan View of the step elementi Figure 6 is a plan view of the'stabilizer element;

' Figure 7 is a plan view of the assembled step structure in retractedposition;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken through the center of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view progressively showing the extended position of the elements in dotted lines;

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are fragmentary sectional views of the pivotal connection between the step and leg elements, showing one form of locking means for retaining the step in its extreme positions; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of the locking means between the hinged step and retracted leg members.

As will best be seen from Figure 7 of the drawings, our improved retractable step assembly is primarily intended to be used in connection with the door I of a conventional lower cabinet usually installed in kitchens, hallways or closets,said door being provided with the usual hinges 2 and knob 3. port or housing 4, shown in detail in Figures 1 to 4, which is preferably formed in one piece, either by casting or pressing to the desired shape. This housing consists of an elongated, flat base 5, bounded by a continuous, relatively shallow marginal wall 6 extending at right angles thereto and preferably beveled or inclined on its outer face to eliminate severe angles. The base 5 is bossed or thickened in predetermined areas 1, 8, and 9, for the triple purpose of adding strength to the structure, providing rigid supports for certain pivotal connections and forming surface fill-ins between the elements of the assembly when retracted as will hereinafter appear.

The boss 1 is formed with two spaced ears or extensions H) which are transversely drilled to provide a pair of co-axial step bearing apertures II. A stabilizer bearing aperture 12 is drilled transversely .through the lower portion of the housing and extends through the bosses 8 and 9, as will be seen from Figure 1. Screw holes [3 are provided in the base 5 and boss 8 to receive suitable screws I 4 for securing the housing 4 to the face of the door I.

The step proper is designated by the numeral l5 and is also preferably formed in one piece by casting, pressing, or stamping, with its longitudinal extremities rounded as shown in Figures 8 to 12. The side edges of the step element are cut out as at IE to accommodate the legs of the step assembly as hereinafter explained. The

lower extremity of the reduced portion of the step [5 is drilled transversely at I! and provided with spaced recesses 18 arranged to engage extensions ID on the boss I in the housing The assembly comprises a main sup.

rounded.

with the apertures H and I! in alignment for receiving the step pivot pin l9 when the structure is assembled. The opposite end of the reduced portion of the step I is transversely drilled at to provide a leg pivot aperture.

A pair of vertical supporting legs 2| are pivoted at one end to the step I 5 by means of a pivot pin 22 which passes through the apertures 20, said legs lying within the cut-out sides I6 of the step. The lower or floor engaging end of each leg is drilled vertically and threaded to receive a height adjusting screw 23 having a lock nut 24, whereby the length of said legs may be individually adjusted to compensate for irregular floor levels.

In the lower portion of the housing 4 we provide a stabilizer spacer 25 which is bifurcated to form arms 26, the lower extremities of which lie respectively, in the recesses formed by bosses 8 and 9, said arms beingjdrilled at 21 to receive a transverse pivot pin 28 which extends through the apertures i 2 in the housing for pivotally mounting the stabilizer. The opposite end of the stabilizer is transversely drilled at 29 to receive a pivot pin 33 which extends through aligned openings in legs 2|, whereby said legs are pivotally secured to each other and to the stabilizer spacer 25. As in the case of the step element. i5, the stabilizer spacer is preferably formed in one piece with its longitudinal extremities When the partsare assembled and retracted, they occupy the relative positions indicated in Figures 7 and 8 and in full lines in Figure 9, the step I5 and stabilizer 25 lying between the legs 2! and the entire assembly resting within the confines of the housing 4. The thickened areas or bosses l, B and 9 fill in the spaces between the various retracted parts so that the outward appearance of the entire assembly is substantially unbroken with all of the parts lying in a common plane.

The extended positions of the parts of the assembly are illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 9, which also shows the intermediate positions of the parts during extension. In the extended position the step I5 is horizontal and the legs 2| engage the floor supporting the outer end of the step, screws 23 being adjusted to compensate for any irregularities in the floor level.

The front portion of the step projects substantially beyond the axis of the leg pivoting 'pin 22. so that by far the greater part of the weight of a person standing on the step will be carried by the legs 2|, little if any of the weight being carried by the door I.

In order to provide for a secure folded or retracted position of the step assembly, we preferably locate the pivot pin centers of pins l9 and 28 approximately further from the base 5 of the main housing than the true center line of the holes drilled in the step I5 and the stabilizer 25, as will be seen from Figures sand 9. Thus, when retracted the upper ends of the step i5 and stabilizer 25 tend to swing inwardly a slight distance past the vertical due to this over center condition of the pins l9 and28.

As additional means for securing the parts in retracted position and to avoid the jarring of said parts outwardly by the slamming of the cabinet door, we provide ball check devices at, predetermined points inthe-structure. As will be seen from Figures 10 to 12, the upper' end of each leg 2| is rounded and provided with notches 3| and 32 in the end and side respectively} the notch 32 being located at substantially right angles to the notch 3|. The outer edge of the step I5 is drilled immediately adjacent the connections of the legs 2| and provided with a coil spring 33 and ball 34 held in place by a hollow head set screw 35 which is threaded into the opening in the step. Each of the balls 34 engages respective notches 3| to retain the parts in closed position when retracted and when in extended position the balls engage the notches 32. The tension of the springs 33 may be adjusted by means of the set screws 35.

As a further precaution against jarring open,

A we provide another set of ball checks. adjacent the pivot pin H) at the fulcrum of the step l5. This is shown in detail in Figure 13 from which it will be seen that the pin I9 is shorterin length than the drilled opening I! in the step I5, and projects only slightly beyond the extensions H]. The outer extremities of the opening I! in the step H? are provided with ball checks 36, the balls 3'! of which engage notches 38 in the adjacent faces of the legs 2| when said legs are retracted. The notches 38 in the legs 2| are located forwardly of the true center line of said legs so as to lock the legs in the past center position when the step is closed and not in use.

To aid in opening or extending the parts of the assembly, we preferably recess the walls 6 as at 39 and provide complementary finger size indentations 40 in the adjacent face of each leg 2|. Thus, the legs 2| may be readily grasped with the fingers and pulled outwardly to lower the step |5 into usable position.

A safety grip rubber matting of any suitable type 4| may be secured to the upper face of the step |5 in order to prevent slippage on the step. As this matting is on that portion of the step which is folded in, it is not visible when the assembly is retracted.

It will thus be seen that We have provided a practical and convenient retractable step assembly which when not in use occupies a minimum of space and presents an inconspicuous yet attracf tive appearance when installed on the lower doors of kitchen cabinets or the like. The nesting arrangement of the parts and the fill-in bosses not only give the retracted structure a streamlined and continuous appearance, but reduce dust deposit on the retracted parts. The stabilizer in combination with the step and legs provide convenient, safe, and stable increased extending height of 15'to 16 inches above the floor level which makes the upper shelving in the average home quickly and conveniently available for easy access and use.

From the foregoing it is believed that our invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1

A retractable step assembly comprising a recessed housing having a base and a marginal wall and being adapted to be secured to a vertical foundation, a step element pivotally mounted at one edge of said housing, a vertical leg element pivoted at one end adjacent the opposite edge of said step element and adapted to engage a fioor with its free end, and a stabilizer element pivotally mounted between said housing and said leg element, said step, leg and stabilizer elements being bodily foldable into'the recess of said hous ing, the pivotal connections between said step and stabilizer elements and said housing, being disposed farther from said base than the true center lines of the pivotal connections between said step and stabilizer elements and said leg element when said elements are folded into said recess, whereby the weight of said elements will tend to maintain them folded and in said recess.

ROBERT NEIL KELTNER. BARBARA LEA KELTNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the .file of this patent:

Number Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Richard Dec. 10, 1878 Lanier Mar. 26, 1907 Beard Sept. 4, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 13, 1932 Germany Jan. 1, 1929 

